Megliola: Jury still out on Red Sox trade

Saturday

Aug 2, 2014 at 8:54 PMAug 2, 2014 at 9:49 PM

By Lenny MegliolaSpecial to the News

BOSTON — There's no doubt that Yoenis Cespedes is a big-ticket slugger, something that has been missing with the Red Sox all season. You'd think Cespedes in a Boston uniform would be welcomed with open arms.Well, yes and no. If he hits, then everything will be fine. If he doesn't, the presence of Cespedes will underscore the absence of Jon Lester. Cespedes would suffer the consequences. Look, he'd rather be in Oakland, and Lester would rather be in Boston. The deal that went down this week puts pressure on both players. Big trades are made to give both teams a fair shake regarding their needs.If Lester continues his terrific season with his new team, and Cespedes stumbles out of the gate with the Red Sox, it'll be a bumpy ride for the muscular outfielder.We'll see if this simply comes down to a team going nowhere dealing with a team with world championship aspirations. But there's been another layer to the story, and it's that Lester, through some curious piece of business, could return to Boston next season. Two months for Lester to help the Athletics get to the promise land, then the big lefty heads east again. Destiny or foolishness?Oakland trading Cespedes, then losing Lester when the season's over seems like a far-fetched scenario. Then again, if Oakland gets to the World Series, and Lester's a big part of it, that might be enough to make Billy Beane happy, even if Lester turns out to be a rental.In a 6-4 loss to the Yankees at Fenway Saturday, Cespedes singled his first time up, but stranded three runners in two other at bats.Lester had some interesting things to say in his first Oakland press conference Friday. "We'll see where that relationship with (the Red Sox) goes. My time in Boston will be something that I always remember, always cherish.""I thanked them personally for everything they've done, and we'll see where it goes later on."But right now I'm an A. And I'm going to perform for these guys and do the best I can to bring a championship here."He got off to a good start Saturday, beating Kansas City 8-3. He wasn't overwhelming, 6 2/3 innings, nine hits and three runs. Four ex-Red Sox, Jonny Gomes, Josh Reddick, Jed Lowrie and Nick Punto drove in five of the Oakland runs.Lester said after the game that winding up with the A's was a stroke of luck because "I know so many of the guys."Back at Fenway Saturday, Allen Webster was trying to show he belonged in a rotation stripped of Lester and John Lackey. Instead, Webster took several giant steps backwards. After the Red Sox had staked him to a 3-0 lead in the third inning, Webster gave the Yankees four back in the fourth. It was messier than it sounds. Webster walked five in the inning, four in a row. Gotta hand it to him, that's not easy to do.Meanwhile, the Red Sox roster is ever-changing. Anthony Ranaudo, conqueror of the Yankees in his big-league debut Friday, is back with the PawSox because Joe Kelly, from the Lackey deal, has been officially added to the roster.Kelly said putting on a Red Sox uniform is "different…but an exciting different. Something I'm really pumped for."The Red Sox weren't done making changes (what a week, huh?). Friday catcher David Ross left in the 6th inning with an injury, so up came Dan Butler for his first taste of the bigs. Remember the A.J. Pierzynski and Ross combo, almost 75 years of men behind the mask? Now your catchers are Christian Vasquez, 23, and Butler, 27. Scorecard sales are up at the park.Sunday the suddenly de facto elder statesman of the rotation, Clay Buchholz, starts. Finally a pitcher the Yankees recognize.Lenny Megliola can be reached at lennymegs@aol.com.